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Zot Chanukah 5785 with Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlit”a

  • Thousands at Lighting of Eighth Chanukah Candle

  • Song of Yom Kippur in the Rav’s Home

  • Shiur about the Level of the Day of Sealing

Like every year on “Zot Chanukah,” thousands from our community arrived from all over Israel for the candle lighting of Zot Chanukah by Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a.  The courtyard was filled to the limit, and those present merited witnessing the candle lighting by the Rav, along with the fiery songs accompanying the lighting.  After the lighting, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a prayed Maariv and gave over a shiur about the great level of the day. The custom of Breslov Chasidim on Zot Chanukah is to sing the melodies of Yom Kippur.  Also Moreinu HaRav shlit”a customarily sits with his family on the “Day of the Sealing,” to gather together for singing the piyyutim (liturgical songs) of Yom Kippur on the holy night of Zot Chanukah. Also this year, the Rav’s wider family gathered together for the candle lighting in his holy home.  After about two hours of singing the Chanukah songs in the Rav’s home, he sat down for the evening meal of Zot Chanukah, and began to say with great fervor the piyyutim and sections which are customarily said on the night of Zot Chanukah from the prayer of Yom Kippur.  For over an hour and a half, they sang the piyyutim of Yom Kippur according to the traditional Breslov liturgy, with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a sometimes serving as the chazzan himself. According to custom, a portion of the piyyutim are taken from the night Yom Kippur service and a portion from the morning service.  Whether talking about the piyyutim of the night or day, it was possible to feel the holy trembling of the day in the moments of the final seal inside the Rav’s holy home. Only close to 11:30 PM, already after Chatzot, did Moreinu HaRav shlit”a conclude by handing out Chanukah gelt to his family.  Afterwards, he entered his room to continue his regular order of holy studies for this holy and awesome day, Zot Chanukah.

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